Letters to the editor for Friday, June 14, 2013

In fact, two and perhaps three are better than one, creating a resort region in the Hudson Valley and Catskills. Evidence is overwhelming that clustering of gaming properties increases overall visitation, and competition between nearby properties creates an overall better experience for guests they would like to attract.

Your recent editorial “Time to pick a winner in local casino contest” is premature, misguided and buys into the argument that one casino license in the Hudson Valley will suffice in sparking enough new economic activity for the region.

In fact, two and perhaps three are better than one, creating a resort region in the Hudson Valley and Catskills. Evidence is overwhelming that clustering of gaming properties increases overall visitation, and competition between nearby properties creates an overall better experience for guests they would like to attract.

All of the Hudson Valley and Catskills region is behind the plan to host multiple destination gaming resorts, such as has been proposed by state Sen. John Bonacic.

Your editorial also provides the reasoning why many people think a redeveloped Nevele is the best hope for the region. Since Empire Resorts has committed to its expansion without being licensed for a full casino and already has video lottery terminals, a second casino property at the Nevele would create a second anchor to the region.

Finally, the exact reason for the governor’s proposal to permit casino gaming at select resorts is to spark economic activity in economically depressed areas, so it should not come as a surprise that the Nevele ownership has been candid about the inability to redevelop the property without a casino license.

For all of these reasons, it’s not time to pick a local winner, it’s time for the region to rally and urge state government that the Hudson Valley and Catskills need more than one.

Michael Treanor

CEO, Nevele Investors LLC

Bernardsville, N.J.

The first step in assisting local economies is: Don’t make them worse.

Yet Gov. Cuomo’s casino gambling expansion plan will do just that, because it doesn’t address the enormous cost of gambling disorders. These costs far exceed benefits and require more than lip service.

New York’s gambling problem, already estimated at $3.7 billion annually, exceeds the combined revenue from all Atlantic City casinos for 2012. The 381,000 problem and 272,500 pathological gamblers in New York already present a financial burden for all state taxpayers.

So investing in gambling addiction recovery and prevention, not more casinos, isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s sound fiscal policy.

To accomplish this, Albany lawmakers must first stop denying the severity of the problem. And all future tribal casino payments (from over $600 million in escrow and a recent revenue sharing agreement) should be dedicated to address gambling addiction recovery and prevention; unlike state Lottery dollars, this money isn’t restricted to fund education and thus far hasn’t been available as a state budget revenue stream.

It’s time for New York to assume its responsibility. Cuomo’s proposal – to allocate $500 per gambling machine or table game – doesn’t even come close.

Dave Colavito

Rock Hill

Upon reading about another proposal for a Catskill casino, I am beginning to wonder why lawmakers in most states seem to favor this.

I think the last thing most Americans need is yet another place to toss their hard-earned money to the wind.

First of all, in the Catskills we hear many plans, but never see any action. Can’t New York state come up with some incentives to attract decent-paying manufacturing or technical jobs?

There are other options besides hotels, slot machines and roulette wheels. Why is no one taking the time or effort to explore them?